Attachment for spudding and drilling machines



W. J. EDWARDS ATTACHMENT FOR SPUDDING AND DRILLING MACHINES Feb. M, 1936..

' Filed Oct. 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb 9 1936. w. J. EDWARDS 2,@3,92

ATTACHMENT FOR SPUDDING AND DRILLING MACHINES I Filed Oct. 7, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATTACHMENT FOR SPUDDING AND DRILLING MACHINES '6 Claims. This invention relates to Well drilling equipment and it has particular reference to certain new and useful improvements in spudding at tachments for rod and tubing machines, rotary rigs and other similar machines not equipped with drilling mechanism.

The principal object of the invention is to provide, in a device of the character specified, first: a device for converting rod and tubing and similar machines into well drilling machines of a portable nature and to increase the degree of efficiency, speed and performance over that of ordinary drilling and spudding machines. The invention is effective in eliminating'undue vibration and relieves the frame of the machine "of excessive abuse resulting from shocks caused by sudden stoppage and release of the drilling cablegsecond: means supplanting. the usual heavy beams ordinarily employed for reciprocating a cable in drill- 0 ing operations, thereby reducing strain upon the power plant and, third: a simple and comparatively inexpensive means for manipulating spudding and drilling tools without 'undue wear, which is simply and eficiently adjusted to vary the stroke of the tool in the operations set forth.

Specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of a cable reciprocating medium for the purpose set forth, having associated therewith means forguiding the cable as it is wound upon 3? or unwound from the drilling drum and its stroke is made adjustable as to length, together with the fact that shocks are absorbed by an improved type of pitman, forming an important part of the invention.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the inventionhas particular reference to its salient features of construction and operation of parts to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is an elevational view of a machine on which the present invention serves as an attach" ment.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the frame of the machine shown in Figure 1 with the invention attached.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the spring loaded pitman with portions broken away, and

Figure 4 is a modified view of the pitman.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawings, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein is shown a portable spudding and drilling machine. In this figure, I designates the truck, to the frame 2 of which is aflixed a 55 super-frame 3, serving the function of supporting the collapsible mast-4, through angular braces 5 and the series of elements, such as the drilling and spudding drum 6 (Figure 2) sand drum "'1 and associated elements.

The present invention, while primarily designed to operate in conjunction with a machine such as illustrated in Figure 1 and briefly described in the foregoing, is specifically adapted 'for use under any condition where it is required to reciprocate a cable with a minimum of friction and vibration.

The invention, to be hereinafter described consists of either a machine or an attachment designed to impart to a drilling cable "a "recipro eating motion and yet absorbing the shocks and vibrations usually transmitted to the operating mechanism, reducing their efficiency and periods of usefulness.

Accordingly, l designates a shaft, journa-led in bearings 8 supported by members 9, which latter in turn are mounted upon the super-frame 3 of the truck. This shaft is parallel with the rotating axes of the drum 6, which, in the present case carries the drilling cable I0 (Figure '2).

The shaft 1 has alfixed thereto arms H, extending radially therefrom, one of which is disposed adjacent either member 9, of which there are two. It will be observed that the underside of each arm ll is recessed at a adjacent its end, two or more of such recesses being provided to accomodate the ends of a shaft l2, the axis of which is parallel with that of shaft 1 and drum 6. Obviously, the recesses in the 'arms make for adjustment of shaft l2 relative to shaft 1 and which adjustment determines the degree of reciprocation of the cable [0. A plate l3 serves "to retain the shaft l 2 in position in a selected recess or bearing in the arms H. 1

The shaft 1 carries a grooved sheave. M which is freely mounted therein so that it will be capable of movement from one end of the'shaft to the other. The shaft I 2, parallel with shaft I and oscillatable with respect thereto, also carries a freely movable and grooved sheave l5.

Connected to the outer end of shaft 1 is a crank Hi, to the outer end of which is connected one end of a pitman, which will be identified by reference characters designating different parts, since this pitman is an essential feature of the present invention and therefore a part thereof.

A cylindrical member I! is provided and in the preferred form, contains a spring I 8, against which is imposed a shoe IS, the latter being secured to a plunger 20, pivotally connected at b to the large gear 2|, affixed to the shaft of the drilling drum 6. It will be noted, that in order to vary the length of the stroke of the pitman, a series of connections, such as at c in Figure 2 are provided and which are radially spaced from the rotating axis of the wheel or gear 2!.

To the cylindrical member I! is connected a substantially U-shaped member 22 which embraces a wooden block 23, perforated to receive the pin 24 of the crank 16.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that when the drilling drum 6 is rotated through the medium of the large gear 2!, the crank 56 will be oscil- The springload'ed shell or cylinder I! will effectively serve to absorb the shock imposed upon the cable and relieve the frame of the vehicle thereof.

It will be understood that while the cylindrical member I! is shown as housing only a single spring, a balanced spring arrangement such as shown in Figure 4 may be provided, the latter affording a spring 25 within the cylindrical shell 26, opposed by spring 21, intermediate which lies the shoe 28 of the plunger 29, the free end of the latter being connected adjacent to the periphery of a wheel or gear such'as that indicated by numeral 2| in Figures 1 and 2. By this latter arrangement, spring resistance to movements of the plunger 29 is afforded in either direction.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is considered within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cable reciprocating apparatus comprising in combination with a cable drum having a driving wheel, arms connected to an oscillating shaft carrying a sheave, a crank on said shaft and having yielding, pitman connection to the driving wheel of said drum, a shaft having its ends adjustably journaled in the ends of said arms and also carrying a freely mounted sheave whereby to guide a cable over said first sheave onto said drum during oscillation of said arms by said drum gear and pitman.

2. A cable reciprocating apparatus in combination with a drum on which a cable is wound and a driving wheel, a shaft having arms secured thereto and extending therefrom, a shaft whose ends are adjustably secured adacent the ends.

of said arms, sheaves freely covered. by each of said shafts for guiding the cable on said .drum and a spring loaded pitman arm adjustably connected to said driving wheel and to said latter shaft for oscillating the latter to impart movement to said arms whereby to reciprocate said cable.

3. A spudding attachment, comprising in combination with a cable drum having a driving wheel, a shaft having a freely mounted sheave thereon, and carrying spaced arms, a second shaft adjustably carried by said arms adjacent their ends and also carrying a freely mounted sheave whereby to guide a cable over said first sheave onto said drum, a crank on said first shaft and a spring loaded pitman connecting said first shaft and the driving wheel of said drum.

4. A cable reciprocating attachment for rod and tubing machines comprising in combination with a cable drum having a driving means, rotating means over and under which said cable is moved to guide the same on said drum, one of said means imparting reciprocating movement to said cable through pitman action from the driving means of said cable drum and means for cushioning said pitman action.

5. An attachment for rotary rigs, rod and tub ing machines and the like comprising in combination with the cable drum of a machine, a driving gear for said drum, a shaft spaced from said drum and whose axis is parallel to that of said drum, arms carried by said shaft and supporting a second shaft capable of adjustment thereto and with respect to said first shaft, each of said shafts carrying freely mounted sheaves for guiding said cable with respect to said drum and means for yieldingly imparting a pitman like motion to said first shaft from said drum driving gear to effect reciprocation of said cable.

6. A spudding attachment in combination with a cable drum, a cable reciprocating means including a rotary and a relatively oscillating shaft, each carrying freely mounted sheaves for jointly guiding a cable on said drum, means for oscillating said oscillating shaft from the driving gear of said drum and means in said latter means for absorbing shocks normally assumed by said cable reciprocating means.

WILLIAM J. EDWARDS. 

